41. Common. Unclean. Defiled. Profane

The words βέβηλος and κοινός, though of kindred meaning, have different applications. They both seem to have started with the signification ‘common.' βέβηλος is connected with βηλός, ‘a threshold,' which may be trodden on by all corners and be defiled. It stands in contrast to a consecrated spot or shrine, which is enclosed and guarded from desecration. In the LXX it once occurs in the sense of ‘common:' common bread in contrast to the show-bread in the tabernacle, 1 Sam. 21:44And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. (1 Samuel 21:4). In the N. T. it is always ‘profane' in the A. V. It represents those for whom the law was made, 1 Tim. 1:99Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, (1 Timothy 1:9); three times it characterizes babblings or vain talking, 1 Tim. 4:7; 6:207But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7)
20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: (1 Timothy 6:20); 2 Tim. 2:1616But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (2 Timothy 2:16); and in Heb. 12:1616Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. (Hebrews 12:16) it describes Esau as a profane person.
κοπινός also is used in the LXX for ‘common,' but more in the sense of fellowship: thus "Let us have a common purse," Pro. 1:1414Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: (Proverbs 1:14); a bad man does nothing for the common weal, chap. 15:23. It is also employed to signify ‘a wide or open' house, as if accessible to all, chap. 21:9; 25:24. The word is used only in these senses in the LXX.
In the N. T. also it occurs in the sense of having "all things common," Acts 2:44; 4:3244And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (Acts 2:44)
32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. (Acts 4:32); "the common faith," Titus 1:44To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Titus 1:4); and the "common salvation," Jude 33Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3). It may mean ‘unclean' in reference to animals forbidden by the law as food, or to Gentiles in contrast with Jews, Acts 10:14, 2814But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. (Acts 10:14)
28And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. (Acts 10:28): they were not sanctified. It is rendered ‘unclean' in respect to food, Rom. 14:1414I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (Romans 14:14); of unwashed hands it is ‘defiled,' Mark 7:22And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. (Mark 7:2); and an apostate virtually treats the blood of Christ as a ‘common' thing ('unholy' A. V.), Heb. 10:2929Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29).
It will be seen, as regards profanity or uncleanness, that βέβηλος refers to what is moral, whereas κοινός descends more to what is ceremonial.
An interesting instance of the use of these words occurs in the charge made against Paul of defiling the temple by bringing in Greeks. The Jews use the verb of κοινός, but Tertullus before the Roman governor uses the verb of βέβηλος, Acts 21:28; 24:628Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. (Acts 21:28)
6Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. (Acts 24:6).